Washington has emerged as the nation’s leader in artificial intelligence (AI) readiness, outperforming traditional tech hubs in a race to dominate the automated economy.
An April report by IP address provider Floxy, which calculated an AI Future Readiness Score based on seven factors — including infrastructure, workforce demographics, and legislative support — reveals that one in 10 U.S. companies now utilize automation tools.
However, the concentration of this power is shifting toward states that offer a combination of elite talent and robust physical infrastructure.
Washington snagged the top spot by maintaining the highest density of AI-related roles in the country, with approximately 290 out of every 100,000 workers employed in AI or data infrastructure. The state’s workforce is uniquely specialized; over 12% of its employees work in tech – double the national average — and 7% of its graduates emerge from STEM fields.
Virginia was runner-up, leveraging its massive physical footprint. Hosting 579 data centers, Virginia provides more computing power than any other state, essentially acting as the engine room for platforms like ChatGPT and Claude.
“AI isn’t just about Silicon Valley anymore,” said Aimen Hallou, chief technology officer at Floxy. “Virginia and Colorado are in the top five, and they are not traditional tech hubs. They’ve built massive data center networks because land is cheaper and power is more reliable than on the coasts.”
While Washington leads in readiness, Colorado has claimed the title for the highest adoption rate. More than 25% of Colorado businesses already use AI tools, the highest percentage in the nation. This is bolstered by a friendly regulatory environment, with Colorado matching California and Texas in receiving a perfect 5/5 score for AI-favorable legislation.
California and Texas rounded out the top five. California remains a legislative pioneer, while Texas has utilized its business-friendly climate to build the second-largest data center network in the U.S., housing more than 400 facilities.
The data suggests a permanent shift in how the U.S. economy operates. With 22% of Washington firms and 26% of Texas businesses planning to integrate automation within the next two years, the AI race is no longer a theoretical future but a statewide industrial revolution.
As Hallou noted, companies are now placing their infrastructure where it makes the most economic sense, signaling that the next chapter of the tech boom will be defined by power grids and regional policy as much as by code.
